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Monday, March 5, 2018

Goodbye, Comfort Zone {March IBA Challenge}

This month our Island Batik Ambassador challenge is truly a challenge -- we have been tasked to "try a technique" -- something that we've never done before!

I've used quite a variety of techniques in my nearly 15 years of quilting! Hand applique, machine applique, templates, paper piecing, free motion quilting, quilt as you go, walking foot quilting, mystery quilts, quilt alongs, designing quilts, strip piecing, leaders and enders, improv piecing, to name just a few! It was slightly difficult to come up with a list of techniques that I haven't tried that I was interested in trying! I'm not necessarily interested in garment making or bag making, which were my first two ideas.

I ultimately decided what I wanted to work on this month was to make a mini quilt or table runner that used bias tape applique. I didn't want to pick something that I would potentially do once and abandon -- I think bias tape applique is a good skill to add to my arsenal! I pulled a few fat eights from my Sunflower Serenade bundle to work with for this project, which I think will end up being a table runner.

I started working with the wider 1/2" bias tape maker and cut my own strips of fusible web because the roll above is only 1/4" wide and supposed to be used with the smaller 1/4" bias tape maker on the right.

I cut 8.5" squares from two different fabrics and these are going to act as my block bases.

I used the pink and purple zig-zag stripe for my bias tape fabric. It really didn't take that long for me to turn my strips of fabric into pressed bias tape! Easy peasy! (don't you just love my obnoxious ironing board cover?)

I "drew" various curved lines on four different blocks. After ironing on the fusible strips, I pinned my desired curves, pressed the strips to the block base, and used purple thread to attach the strips to blocks.

Here are my other three blocks:

Here are all four together:

Now to decide how to put these together! I'm not sure if I am going to add more blocks with applique or additional plain blocks.

Are there any techniques that you haven't tried yet that you're itching to try? Any tips for me in my bias tape adventures?

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